AZUSA, Calif. – On Saturday afternoon, Azusa Pacific secured their sixth consecutive win against Point Loma since 2020 while also extending their winning streak on the season to six. With the 76-58 win, the team now holds a 9-2 overall record including a perfect 4-0 Conference record.
The game was highlighted by TyLee Manuel's 20 points which made it her fifth game in a row and eighth game this season to score in the double digits. She also led the team with 10 rebounds. Alex Lowden also posted a season-high 17 points including three triples and also grabbed four steals. She was joined by Kelly Heimburger and Paige Uyehara who contributed 13 points each. All four of the Cougars to score in the double-digits outscored the Sea Lions' highest-scoring player.
How It Happened: Up until the last second, the Cougars played from behind the entire first quarter while trying to erase a seven-point deficit. With two minutes left on the clock, Lowden knocked down two triples followed by a last-second three-pointer from Amayah Kirkman to put the team up 19-17 going into the second quarter.
Point Loma then opened the second quarter strong with a three-pointer to regain the lead but the Cougars fought to take the lead back within minutes. Across the next six minutes, the Cougars went on a 16-3 scoring run followed by another last-second shot this time from Heimburger.
The Cougars entered the locker room with a 38-28 lead after holding the Sea Lions to only 11 points in the second quarter.
Within the first two minutes of the third quarter, Azusa Pacific went on a 9-2 scoring run including back-to-back field goals from Manuel, a face-break layup from Lowden, and a triple from Heimburger.
The action continued for the Cougars as they went on to score 21 points in the third quarter and secured a comfortable 16-point lead heading into the final quarter of the game.
With a score of 59-43 to start the fourth quarter, the Cougars just continued to extend their lead to 25 points with two minutes left of the game but finished out with an 18-point lead over the Sea Lions.
By the Numbers: Across the last half of the game, Azusa Pacific strung together 38 points to outscore the Sea Lions and the Cougars scored 21 of their 76 total points off 20 turnovers. The turnaround came during the third quarter when the Cougars shot 9-for-16 (56%) from the field goal line. Azusa Pacific also led in rebounds with 42 total rebounds to the Sea Lions' 35.
Up Next: The Cougars will have a week to rest before they head up to Northern California to face Academy of Art next Saturday followed by a game at Dominican on Monday, Dec. 19th. Azusa Pacific currently holds a 5-0 record away and looks to extend that as well as their winning streak during their time in the Bay. Both games are set to start at 1:00 pm.
